ENG-2001 — Page 232

HEALTH

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Through multi-sectoral collaboration and community mobilisation, the office seeks to promote a smoke-free culture in Hong Kong.

Recognising the complexity of tobacco control issues, the office has adopted a multi-pronged approach to achieve its goals. One of the priority areas is to assist. managers and staff of statutory no-smoking areas to comply with and enforce the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance. In 2001, 870 restaurants and shopping malls. were visited and the law requirements were explained to managers of these no-smoking areas.

Under the ordinance, tobacco advertisements are prohibited in printed publications distributed in Hong Kong. The office screened 2 500 issues of printed publications and issued nine warning letters against tobacco advertisements during the year. The office also organises health education activities by itself or in collaboration with other organisations to increase public awareness of the harmful effects caused by tobacco and second-hand smoke.

On June 21, the Health and Welfare Bureau released a public consultation document on the Government's proposed legislative amendments to the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371). The document invited members of the public to express their views on the proposed legislative amendments, which include measures to expand the statutory no-smoking areas in public indoor areas and to tighten control on tobacco advertising and promotion. The consultation ended in September, with over 10 000 written submission received from different sectors of the community. The aim is to report the results of the consultation to the public in 2002.

The Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health is an independent statutory body, established in 1987 to acquire and disseminate information on the hazards of using tobacco products, and to advise the Government on matters related to smoking, passive smoking and health.

During the year, the council conducted publicity and community involvement campaigns with particular emphasis on discouraging smoking in public and in workplaces. The council also continued its school health education programmes. In addition to health talks, a newly developed interactive education drama had toured a total of 129 primary and secondary schools during the year. The council also operates a telephone hotline to receive enquiries, suggestions and complaints from members of the public on matters related to smoking and health.

In collaboration with the Ruttonjee Hospital, the Department of Community Medicine and the Department of Nursing Studies of the University of Hong Kong, and the Department of Community and Family Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the council set up in August 2000 a Smoking Cessation Health Centre, located at the Ruttonjee Hospital, to provide smoking cessation support services.

Training of Medical and Health Personnel

The University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong provide basic training of doctors. They took in 161 and 155 medical students, respectively, in 2001. During the year, nine doctors holding professional qualifications obtained outside Hong Kong passed the Licensing Examination conducted by the Medical Council of Hong Kong.